Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA : MBA Archive

hwu580

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

10 Feb 2016, 16:08

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My personal opinion is that a good portion of people who choose to apply to part-time programs focus more on obtaining a degree rather than the social / career parts which are what most full-time students look for. So I believe the problems you are talking about may apply to the vast majority of part-time programs, not just Booth. I, for example, am looking for the social & career parts, so I never consider applying to a part-time program because of its comparatively lack of cohesion / career opportunities. Regarding full-time students looking down upon part-time students, I'm sure every school has these types of jerks...

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

10 Feb 2016, 16:21

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If you want the social benefit of the full-time program, why didn't you just apply to the full-time program in the first place? You should know, going into this, that the part-time student life is going to be a little different from the full-time.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

10 Feb 2016, 16:27

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Valid points but other programs do a much better job of cohesiveness than Chicago booth. Other part time programs keep a part time cohort so despite the lack of outside activities, you still develop those closer bonds. Programs like Kellogg's part time program where you take all your core classes together which does not happen at booth. If you just want flexibility but lack of cohesiveness booth is fine. If you want to do deeper connections and go part time I would pick Kellogg or a other part time programs offer a cohort experience.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2017, 16:32

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Nai222 wrote:

As a prospective applicant, this post needs to be removed. Whatever issues you have with Booth and the program, you need to bring it to the folks who can actually drive change, rather than post defaming statements about a highly respectable program. If your that upset about it go talk to the administration. I have heard nothing but great things about Booth, and I look forward to learning more about the program.

I think there may be more value in keeping this post intact to serve as a reminder and a historic record.
What it describes IS an extreme situation but having gone through the MBA and having interacted with PT Peers, I can definitely hear some familiar tones. It is not untrue either. Again, this is an extreme situation but it is true that PT is not the same as FT, and PT students should realize it. However, I do NOT think that PT Booth is any different from PT Kellogg or PT XXX.

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BigGulpsHuh

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2017, 18:05

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BB, good call on bumping this post. I think it's important given that any MBA program is a huge investment and I believe it's only fair to share information to help provide potential students an objective perspective.

I've had the pleasure to check out PT Stern, Booth, Kellogg, UCLA, and Haas. In my opinion, Stern and Booth does not do a great job of part-time student integration. Kellogg does a great job integrating part-time students as a cohort, but it seems that this may only apply to the local people who live in the immediate Chicago/Evanston area. For example, the Wisconsin folks would be somewhat left out.

From what I've seen, UCLA and Haas does the best job with part-time and full-time integration hands down, in addition to providing the most supportive career services if you are someone who wants to transition careers. I would gladly speak in detail about the programs if anyone has specific questions.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

12 Feb 2017, 13:56

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BigGulpsHuh wrote:

From what I've seen, UCLA and Haas does the best job with part-time and full-time integration hands down, in addition to providing the most supportive career services if you are someone who wants to transition careers. I would gladly speak in detail about the programs if anyone has specific questions.

Hi BigGulpsHuh,
Great post. I am admitted to both Booth and Haas PT programs and have to decide on one soon.
Could you elaborate more on the point about integrating with FT program and career services at Haas? I heard PT students can take up internships after 2nd year. Is that through the career center or through students' own efforts? if the school facilitates it(unlike Booth), that would be a great advantage for the EWMBA students.

Also do you think there is collaboration on projects/startup contests between FT and PT students at Haas?

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

09 Sep 2017, 18:06

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bb wrote:

Nai222 wrote:

As a prospective applicant, this post needs to be removed. Whatever issues you have with Booth and the program, you need to bring it to the folks who can actually drive change, rather than post defaming statements about a highly respectable program. If your that upset about it go talk to the administration. I have heard nothing but great things about Booth, and I look forward to learning more about the program.

I think there may be more value in keeping this post intact to serve as a reminder and a historic record.
What it describes IS an extreme situation but having gone through the MBA and having interacted with PT Peers, I can definitely hear some familiar tones. It is not untrue either. Again, this is an extreme situation but it is true that PT is not the same as FT, and PT students should realize it. However, I do NOT think that PT Booth is any different from PT Kellogg or PT XXX.

Hi BB - trying to reconcile, "The program at Chicago Booth is barely a cohort. You do not take courses with the same folks like you would in many other part time programs." and "However, I do NOT think that PT Booth is any different from PT Kellogg or PT XXX."

Would you not agree this program format and collegiality might be a consideration when thinking about PT programs?

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

14 Sep 2017, 08:51

cantrollmyrs wrote:

This is based on personal preference but there are things you might not realize comparing Chicago Booth versus other part time programs. The program at Chicago Booth is barely a cohort. You do not take courses with the same folks like you would in many other part time programs. This does mean more flexibility but a loss of close connections with other classmates.

You can NOT transfer into full time without completely quiting the program. Even if you get in they will only transfer at max 3 credits, even if they are the exact same classes you'd have to take over again. A little odd that they would make you repeat the same classes, but you only get to transfer three should you even be able to transfer. If you want to transfer go to Kellogg, they allow a certain number of folks to transfer from Part Time to Full Time and actually accept the credits.

Chicago Booth Full Time students actively look down on the part timers, I've heard a lot of crap in my time there. While anyone is allowed to join any club, many actively seek to keep part time students out. Most events seem to forget that part time students even exist. Take their Thursday Night Drinking club, while part timers can go, they will not advertise, nor even acknowledge the presence of part time students.

My overall experience is that part time students are there to pay the bills so full time students can have the fun / look down on the part time students, which even though you can take the exact same classes, is a rampant problem at this school.

The school does a terrible job integrating the programs together / building school unity.

Honestly if I would do it over and was picking a part time MBA program I would pick a school that was more cohesive, formed closer bonds, and focused on school unity as a whole, rather than just ignoring a large subset of the population.

If you're looking for strong unity and the same cohort and to be 'accepted' into groups and whatnot then you should definitely go for the full-time. PT programs are for people who know what they want to do and are on that career path and need the credibility of an MBA/the degree as a check-mark on their resume to get to their next position faster than without it. That's the reality of the situation. Remember: it's a business transaction, treat it as such.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

09 Feb 2018, 01:05

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I think the criticism here misses the point.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

06 Sep 2018, 19:39

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Most full-time MBAs seem a bit strange-like they are the kids in college that never had any fun and are trying to have fun (for once) in graduate school. Being a bit arrogant or trashing part-time or weekend MBA students seems to tell you everything about them, doesn't it? Most students in the evening program seems a bit more normal. I have taken classes in both.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

06 Sep 2018, 20:15

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Both FT and PT are great programs at Booth - they serve different demographics and needs for students. It is definitely not cool for FT students to look down upon PT students, but also it's not right to take extreme cases to question the quality of the program itself either.

In the end, if you see the ROI in MBA, do what's best for you. It should all be geared towards your career goals. It doesn't matter if you went to FT or PT - what matters are what you get out of and how you use the learning/experiences to accelerate your career.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

14 Oct 2018, 04:33

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There is an official instagram of Booth's evening and weekend program and all the people in there seem happy to have made the choice they did.

One has to choose what program is the best fit for them.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

04 Nov 2019, 20:53

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hanamana wrote:

Both FT and PT are great programs at Booth - they serve different demographics and needs for students. It is definitely not cool for FT students to look down upon PT students, but also it's not right to take extreme cases to question the quality of the program itself either.

In the end, if you see the ROI in MBA, do what's best for you. It should all be geared towards your career goals. It doesn't matter if you went to FT or PT - what matters are what you get out of and how you use the learning/experiences to accelerate your career.

Let's not be coy here, PT students are gifted access to the prestige that is earned by full-time students. If you broke off the part-time program and entered it the full-time U.S. News rankings, it would land in the 25-30 range (e.g. 680 GMAT for PT vs 730 GMAT for FT). This wouldn't be a problem if it was clear who attended which program, but PT students are notorious for hiding the fact that they went PT (e.g. falsely listing two years of attendance on LinkedIn, quitting their job and attending FT classes).

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

04 Nov 2019, 21:10

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Prices wrote:

hanamana wrote:

Both FT and PT are great programs at Booth - they serve different demographics and needs for students. It is definitely not cool for FT students to look down upon PT students, but also it's not right to take extreme cases to question the quality of the program itself either.

In the end, if you see the ROI in MBA, do what's best for you. It should all be geared towards your career goals. It doesn't matter if you went to FT or PT - what matters are what you get out of and how you use the learning/experiences to accelerate your career.

Let's not be coy here, PT students are gifted access to the prestige that is earned by full-time students. If you broke off the part-time program and entered it the full-time U.S. News rankings, it would land in the 25-30 range (e.g. 680 GMAT for PT vs 730 GMAT for FT). This wouldn't be a problem if it was clear who attended which program, but PT students are notorious for hiding the fact that they went PT (e.g. falsely listing two years of attendance on LinkedIn, quitting their job and attending FT classes).

What a goofy take. Is there a difference in the PT/FT diploma? Is there a difference in the faculty? Is there a difference in the quality of the education? Is there a material difference in the employment outcomes for career-switchers in the PT vs FT programs? FT program is 2 years, PT is 2.5 - is that what upsets you?

If we want to throw out stereotypes, how's this: you're looking for a balance between experience and academics. The PT program is for people who are established in their careers and typically have significant work experience. FT is for people who do not have an established career, comparatively little work experience, and then have to make up for that with (on average) stronger academics.

PT has a lower average GMAT (690) than FT (730), but the FT range is 610-790 from the last class data I found - do you actively look down on the FT people with 610-690? Isn't that "PT Tier" and do you get mad that they are "enjoying" what you're suggesting is unearned prestige?

This is such a silly attitude, and if this kind of elitist immaturity is what defines the FT students then it would be right for them to be separated from the working professionals.

Posted from my mobile device

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

04 Nov 2019, 21:23

Prices / usmabmass,

Thanks for reviving a few year old topic! Always excited to talk Booth, good or bad.

Prices, it looks like you’re a current FT student. Can you explain the resources available to FT vs. PT students? I’ve been curious about this, since the standards for admission are different for both programs yet as usmabmass points out, the diploma at the end is the same. Do you feel PT students detract from the FT experience? If so, how and how has it affected you so far at Booth? Would you say there’s a noticeable tension or rift between FT and PT students?

usmabmass,

Are you a current FT or PT student at Booth? Curious to know your thoughts on how Booth FT and PT students interact and if the solution to this might be trying to create separate cohorts/classes for FT and PT students?

Posted from my mobile device

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

04 Nov 2019, 21:49

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usmabmass - Fair points. I may be too cynical about it. I appreciate your view.

fatmike - The resources are similar. The biggest structural difference is that PT students typically take classes downtown, while FT students take classes in Hyde Park.There is some interaction between the programs but most interaction occurs intra-program.

Posted from my mobile device

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

05 Nov 2019, 10:28

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I would say that while there is definitely a bit of FT elitism at Booth (and I sort of do it too, so I'm not judging anything), it's pretty common at most business schools. Even Kellogg, while more integrated, will have some sort of judgment based on things I hear from my friends.

That being said, I still think the PT is a fantastic program because you get access to fantastic resources. I have friends from where I formerly worked that are PT students ahead of me who've taken classes by Booth's famous professors (Kaplan, Meadows, etc.). In fact, Booth provides specific class sections for PT which we can't even bid on.

At the end of the day, people should be going to PT and FT for different things. Yes, there's a little bit of elitism, but does that really matter at the end of the day? I talk with PT when I can, but I'm swamped with recruiting and I don't really go to Gleacher on Saturdays so I don't see them enough to interact with them. PT students should have joined the program to gain the degree and knowledge to further their current careers, and the amount of resources Booth provides them should amply allow them to do that. With just the amount of resources Booth PT provides, I think it's a fantastic program. If you're looking to integrate with FT or do recruiting, you should not be applying for the PT program in the first place. And if PT students reach out to me, I don't ever turn them away. I just don't have the time needed to make an effort to get to know them myself.

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Re: Why I Would Not Pick Chicago Booth Part Time MBA [#permalink]

05 Nov 2019, 10:28